Is Venepuncture in Neonatal Research Ethical?

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Bibliographic Citation

Abstract

AIM: To determine whether venepuncture accords with the accepted
(BPA) criteria of not causing more than minimal physical or psychological
distress during non-therapeutic research. METHODS: Ninety two venepunctures
were carried out in 69 neonates between days 6 and 10 of life, and in some
cases, on day 28. Parents were fully informed of the need for the procedure
and allowed to attend while it was performed. Ninety parents and 87 doctors
completed questionnaires to assess the levels of perceived parental and child
distress and anxiety before and after the procedure. RESULTS: Only three
parents were very upset, and 47% reported the test as being better than they
expected, compared with 10% who thought it worse than expected. Seven babies
were recorded as being very upset. Doctors tended to underestimate the degree
of anxiety before the procedure and the level of distress afterwards.
CONCLUSIONS: Venepuncture in neonates seems to be acceptable to most parents
and is associated with a favourable risk: benefit ratio using semiquantitative
assessment of risk and benefit.